Spiders in House Plants

Spiders

• While any spider may wander indoors and find its way into the area around your plants, a few spiders may have greater motivation to spend time on your house plants. Crab spiders hunt for prey around outdoor plants and may climb onto one of your house plants while it is outside. Jumping spiders prefer to live around windows and may wind up on your plants because they sit in a sunlit spot. Grass spiders make their webs in low shrubs and may be attracted to a potted shrub.

Bringing Plants In

• Before you bring any plants you take outdoors for the summer back inside, check them for the presence of spiders or other insect pests. Turn the garden hose on any plants that show signs of spider infestation, including webs.

  Place your plants in a form of quarantine indoors, locating them in a separate area for a period of several weeks to monitor them for signs of infestation before placing them among your other indoor plants, recommends the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension. The University of Vermont Extension suggests soaking each house plant pot in tub of lukewarm water for a 15 minute period, to force insects out of the soil.

Prevention

• Treat your house plants to eliminate any insect pests. Spiders may be attracted to your plants if they harbor creatures the spiders consume as food. These include mites, flies and a wide range of other insects. Ensure that your windows are properly sealed and screens are in good repair. General indoor cleanliness routines such as regular dusting, vacuuming and removal of webs can reduce spider numbers.

Spider Mites

• Spider mites are a spider relative. These extremely small arachnids may be mistaken for spiders. You may usually see the damage they create or their webs, rather than the actual spider mites. They suck the sap from plants, feeding on living plant material. This causes the yellowing of plant foliage, potentially stunting or killing plants. Spider mites can live in the soil or on your plants, and they prefer dry conditions. According to the Colorado State University Extension, the two-spotted spider mite is one mite that specifically infests houseplants.

  To control the mites, regularly remove any plant debris, keep your plant foliage clean and wash your plants in the shower to dislodge mites. Horticultural oils and miticides are available as treatments.